Welcome to the CUNY Sexual Assault Policy Tracker!
This blog was a creation of Students for a Greater CUNY (SGC) to track the progress of the CUNY Sexual Assault Policy Taskforce. As of June 28, 2010, SGC achieved a hard earned dream alongside many supporters. We have kept this open for others who may be striving to achieve similar goals to become inspired to create effective coalition building!
Questions? EMAIL US AT cunysgc@gmail.com. Feel free to spread the word!!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

The Blog will begin a new theme of exploring myths around sexual violence. It must be noted that it is such myths that have created an environment where perpetrators escape accountability and victims are re-traumatized. However, prior to exploring some of the most common myths surrounding sexual violence, it is important to define the term sexual violence, and specifically sexual assault, and certain relationships and circumstances they arise under.

Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence is a global health and human rights problem in the world (WHO, 2009). It is a worldwide pandemic, which not only effects women, but men and our society in general. Sexual Violence encompasses sexual assault but is not exclusive to sexual assault. It is a much broader term that stems from the need for power and control over others. In sexual violence, sex is the weapon and method in order for the perpetrator to gain power and control.

The following definitions are from the Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network's page on definitions.

Sexual Assault: The specific definitions of sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse actually vary state by state since such terms are legal. Therefore, the following definition is taken from the Department of Justice's definition that states sexual assault is "unwanted sexual contact that stops short of rape or attempted rape. This includes touching and fondling"(http://rainn.org/get-information/types-of-sexual-assault/sexual-assault).

Rape: Again rape is a legal term and the specific definition differs from state to state. However, the definition used by the Department of Justice is the following: rape is forced sexual intercourse, which includes vaginal, anal, or oral penetration that may also may be done by a body part or an object. It is important to remember in 8 out of 10 rapes, no weapon is used except physical force. In addition, almost in the majority of cases, victims feel as if they are about to die.

Stranger Rape: When most individuals think of rape, they think of stranger rape, which is when someone unknown to the victim rapes them. Stranger rape actually falls into three categories.

1)BLITZ SEXUAL ASSAULT: In such a case, a victim is assaulted brutally and rapidly by a perpetrator without having any prior contact with the individual. Such assaults may occur in public places or at night.2)CONTACT SEXUAL ASSAULT: In such cases, the perpetrator tries to win the trust and confidence of the victim before assaulting them. Such perpetrators pick their victims in bars or create situations where the victim may be coerced into a sexual assault. 3)HOME INVASION SEXUAL ASSAULT: Such assaults occur when someone breaks into the individual's home.

Acquaintance Rape: Unlike stranger rape, which is thought of as the most common form of rape, actually most cases of rape are acquaintance rape. This further relates more to a college campus population than stranger rape. Such a term in used to describe an assault that involves the use of sexual activities that are coercive and occur without the individual's permission. The perpetrator might use violence, duress, force, or use fear of bodily injury against the individual. However, in such instances, the individual who is responsible for committing the assault is a friend, a date, an acquaintance, or someone who the victim knows.

-Most assaults usually fall into the category of acquaintance rape and it is important to keep in mind even if one has a current relationship with the perpetrator or had an intimate relationship with the perpetrator, it does not mean consent was given to the individual.

-In every instance, verbal consent has to be given in every instance of sexual intimacy, and as "the level of sexual intimacy increases (e.g., moving from kissing to petting, from petting to oral sex, from oral sex to intercourse or anal sex, etc.)"(http://rainn.org/get-information/types-of-sexual-assault/acquaintance-rape). Like all forms of all other sexual assault, acquaintance rape is about power and control.

-In the overwhelming cases of acquaintance rape, the victims do not define their experience as a sexual assault, and actually blame themselves for the assault.

-Furthermore, since the perpetrator is known to the victim, the victim sees their perpetrator after the assault has occurred, which can cause re-traumatization as well as feeling shame and humiliation.

Here are also some physical and emotional reactions that victims of acquaintance rape may experience or show: Mood Swings, Nightmares, Anxiety, Fear, Helplessness, Depression, Suicidal Behavior/Ideation, self-harm, and sleeping and eating disturbances.

Monday, August 17, 2009

The link embedded in the subject title of this blog entry is a good introduction into what rape culture is.

As you watch the film, here are some questions to ponder:

How have you experienced rape culture?

Is there a thin line between rape culture and "normal" conceptualizations of sex and sexuality?

What kinds of messages/encounters do you or someone you know receives daily that makes you/him/her feel uncomfortable?

What would a world without rape culture look like?

What does rape culture look like on college campuses?

How can individuals effectively challenge and change rape culture?

What do you personally commit to doing to help change rape culture?

To building a Greater CUNY,

SGC

Become involved! Email us at cunypolicy08@gmail.com. We currently have an immediate need for:

* A skilled technician with software to make jpeg files to post letters of support on the tracker* A graphic arts designer to help our website designer* Skilled media savvy persons to chronicle CUNY's progress for the students on campus blogs, radio and television.* Organizations and individuals to endorse our cause (willing to sign a letter of support)* Organizations and individuals to join Students for a Greater CUNY as a member

Even her rapist told her he would take away her puppy or would hurt her little brother

So she took it

The rape of a daughter by her own father is unheard of

Talking about boundaries, sex, and what relationships are is taboo in the world

So little Sophie went on

Ten turned toeleven

Eleven turned to thirteen

Fourteen turned to sixteen

Sixteen turned to nineteen

The years went on by

The abuse never stopped

Her screams went unheard

No one heard

Not her brother,not her sister, not her mother, nor the world

As she grew older

the screams became silent

Silenced by the terror she felt

Her body would freeze or tremble when his footsteps approached

She felt like she was the same little Sophie whose innocence was stolen

But something else was now happening to her

Her Anger, fear, and terror turned into guilt and shame

She hated herself

She felt ashamed

She felt guilty

Somehow this ten year old turned nineteen year old woman blamed herself

Maybe she was cursed

Maybe she had done something to deserve her faith

That is when the self-harm began

She began to cut herself

It started with hitting her head because the painful thoughts would not stop

Then she started taking a blade and began cutting herself

It made her feel better

It eased the pain

But after the momentary release

She looked at her body and hated what she was doing to herself

She was going deeper and deeper into a dark abyss

The only way she felt she could get out was to kill herself

Yes, self-harm that exacerbated to the level of suicide

So, she meticulously planned her own suicide out

She left a note for her rapist, her own father

And jumped from the roof of the college where she would have been Class of 2011

Become involved! Email us at cunypolicy08@gmail.com. We currently have an immediate need for:

* A skilled technician with software to make jpeg files to post letters of support on the tracker* A graphic arts designer to help our website designer* Skilled media savvy persons to chronicle CUNY's progress for the students on campus blogs, radio and television.* Organizations and individuals to endorse our cause (willing to sign a letter of support)* Organizations and individuals to join Students for a Greater CUNY as a member